Michigan seminarians witness the papal journey

The world watched as Pope Benedict XVI greeted his flock for the last time as pope, the day before his retirement last month. Thousands of the faithful made the pilgrimage to St. Peter’s Square in Rome to see it for themselves. Billions more followed the emotional farewell via TV, radio and social networking.

Among the faithful in Rome were three young seminarians from Michigan: Deacon James Grau, 27, of Livonia; David Tomaszycki, 27, of Casco Township; and Bryan Shackett, 24, of Marine City.

“I feel truly blessed to be able to be here,” Shackett said. “The election of a new pope is incredibly important to Catholics around the globe.”

Not to mention history in the making: the first time in 600 years that a papacy ended in a resignation rather than death. The 85-year-old pope said he no longer had “the strength of mind or body” to carry on.

“I have taken this step with the full understanding of the seriousness and also the novelty of the decision, but with a profound serenity in my soul,” he told the banner-waving crowd, assuring them that he was not abandoning the Catholic church.

“To love the church means also to have the courage to take difficult, painful decisions, always keeping the good of the church in mind, not oneself,” he said to chants of “Benedetto!” But it was time to begin the final stage of his life as “simply a pilgrim.”

“It was incredibly moving, for everyone there,” said Grau. “I mean, for one, you couldn’t set up the scene better: the last speech of a shepherd to his flock before he goes. It was very personal, as if he was telling us what he thought, what it means to him personally to be a Christian, to be a part of the church, a spiritual father to so many. The crowd, too, that was there was so appreciative of him. People here really loved him, and I’m glad I got to see that.”

Then, Pope Benedict XVI faded from view and the Swiss Guards closed the doors of the palazzo, signifying that their service protecting the head of the Catholic church was on hold, for now.

Tomaszycki described the mood in the ancient city as ecstatic.

“When the new pope is chosen, no matter what I am doing or wherever I am, I am going to drop everything I am doing and run down to St. Peter’s Square,” said the seminarian. “To be in Rome during the midst of such a historic moment really makes things personal. Most of the American cardinals have been staying at our seminary here. During the actual conclave they will be secluded in the Sistine Chapel.”

On March 13, 2013, after what was surely one of the shortest papal conclaves in history, white smoke appeared at the Sistine Chapel and the doors of the palazzo opened to reveal the cardinals choice for the 266th pope.

Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio of Buenos Aires, the first pope to be elected from the Society of Jesuits, emerged on the balcony. And once again, the faithful who journeyed to the Vatican cheered for their pope. He chose the papal name Francis, after St. Francis of Assisi, the humble servant, who dedicated his life to the poor.

“We’re all excited to have a new pope. It’s not about the man, or this issue or that issue. It’s about Christ continuing to care for his Church. That’s why hundreds of thousands of people stand in the rain, talking to complete strangers from all over the world, completely ecstatic — not for who the Holy Father is, but because Christ has given us one,” said Grau, who is in his fourth-year at the seminary in Rome. “That’s the atmosphere and feeling in Rome right now.”

“My first reaction was one of true joy and awe,” Shackett added. “I felt so blessed to be able to be in St. Peter’s Square, to witness the announcement of a new pope and to see Pope Francis for the first time. He is truly a humble man and will continue the great work of teaching and guiding the faithful to Jesus Christ, in his words and in his life, as his predecessors Blessed Pope John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI did.”

Gina Joseph is a reporter and columnist for The Macomb Daily. Send comments to gina.joseph@macombdaily.com, follow her on twitter @ginaljoseph and visit her blog at macomblife.blogspot.com.